Oil-burner safety device



Oct. 16,1928. 1,688,163

' H. F; TAPP ET AL .OIL BURNER SAFETY DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l SUPPLY TANK avwemtow:

Get. 16; 1928. 1,688,163 I H. F. TAPP ET AL Y I OIL BURNER SAFETY DEViG E Filed Jan. 50, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 1 '6, 1928.

' 1,688,163 H. F. TAPP ET AL OIL. BURNER SAFETY DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 gum/whom:

1928' H. F. TAPP ET AL OIL BURNER SAFETY DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 50; 1926 gave whom: f/kkxrfi 711/ 1 H. F. TAPP ET A ,163

OIL BURNER SAFETY DEVICE Filed Jan 50, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 'cessory which may readily Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. TAPP, 0F BROOKLYN, AND HOWARD W. DIX, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIG-NORS 'I'O SOCION Y BURNER CORPORATION, AWARE.

or NEW YORK, is. Y., a CORPORATION or DEL- OILLBURNER SAFETY DEVICE.

Application filed January 30, 1926 Serial No. 84,843.

This lnvention relates to fuel burners, and in particular it relates to that type of fuel burners which operate on liquid fuel such as oil. The invention has also to do With an improved safety means forcontrolling the burner to eliminate dangerous operating con ditions and to prevent the existence of fire hazards.

This invention Will be hereinafter described indetail as being incorporated in an oil burner which is particularly adapted for heating homes, apartmentmoifice buildings and the like. The particular burner herein referred to is substantially automatic'in its operations. While the improved safety means has an especial advantage When incorporated in the automatic oil burners-for heating the homes it is to be understood that it may be incorporated in automatic burners employed for other purposes, and that it may also be incorporated in semi-automatic oil burners which at more or less regular intervals require the attention of an attendant.

-Also, it may be noted that-the improved safety means herein disclosed may be incorporated in a non-automatic oil burner. Also, the safety device may form an integral part of a burner, .or it may be provided as an acbe attached to oil burners already manufactured.

ployed for heating the homes or dwellings, it is the common practice to have such burners controlled by or be responsive to a thermostatic means or element located at some desirable place in the home such as in the hall. In

some instances, however, it may be desirable to have the thermostatic element located near the furnace or boiler. In any event the thermostatic control element isso located that it will operate to properly control the desired of the home or apartment, or other buildings where such a. burner is installed.

The usual operation of burners so installed is intermittent, for as the dwelling becomes" sufficiently warm "the thermostatic element operates to close down the burner, and in the event the home becomes chilled the thermostatic element operates to start the burner.

Thus it will be seen that usually the oil burners for home their operations.

the existence of such conditions.

' thermostatic element.

purposes are intermittent in flooding of the oil in the burner andusually an overflow onto the floor .of the basement thus creating an exceptionally dangerous fire hazard. I The improved safety means hereinafter disclosed in detail operates to .prevent Likewise, 1n the burners which are intermittent in their I operation the invention hereinafter described operates to preventthe existence of fire hazards-due to overflowing of oil when theburner fails to ignite at any one of the periods When it normally is required to begin operations in response to the action of the Also this safety device becomes operable to stop the burner when the burning stops for any reason and thereby prevents the existence of the fire hazard. This invention presents a further improvement in that the oil fuel in either case is not permltted to become exposed to the atmosphere, thus the flooding of the burner itself and the flooding of the basement floor is eliminated. In respect to oil burners particularly eml It is recognized that in some burners which have heretofore been manufactured there has been incorporated therein certain devices or safety means which operate to close down the burners when abnormal conditions exist. One of these safety means is the collection of oil which, has been fed to the burner but which was not ignited. This collected oil heretofore has been conveyed to a container and when a certain amount or quantity thereof has been collected the container moves, usually'due to Weight of the Oil, and operates in some manner to stop the operations of the burner. These containers which collect the oil have become known as drip buckets. One ofthe great disadvantages of such type of safety means is that the oil collected becomes exposed to the atmosphere and thereby presents an exceptionally dangerous fire hazard. Another disadvantage is that When the burner has been closed down by reason of the collection of a material quantity of oil in the It will be noted that this collected oil is always open to the atmosphere, 'thus the existence of danger, especially when, as is usually the case, the dripbucket is positioned'in close association with the burner itself which be-' comes heated during its normal operation. Therefore the fire hazard becomes particulan ly dangerous. 1

The main object of-this invention is, therefore, to provide. an improved and novel safety means which eliminates the disadvantages hereinbefore enumerated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved portion of the control for liquid fuel burners in which the fuel in its natural state, i. e., as oil in its liquid state, is employed for closing down the burner when combustion is not initiated'or when combustion ceases.

Another and partic lar object of this invention is to provlde such an improved 'safet y' control means for an oil burner that the oil in its natural or liquid state may be employed to operate a safety control and to maintain this ,acti'ng oil so that it is'never free to the atmosphere. 1 I

A further-object of the invention is to provide in an oil burner a novel closed oil system for operating a safety means for controlling the burner. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved safety control for an oil burner to prevent the existence of a dangerous fire hazard by providing an enclosed oil sys-. tem in which a certain amount of the oil collectedwill operate the safety 'means to close .which' shows the position of the down the burner, and thepperating oil thereafter will be returned'to the oil supply or to the oil supply system. This improvement also includes the maintainin of this collected oill so that it never becomes free to the atmosere. 5 a A still further object of this invention is to provide animproved and novel safety means which is responsive to'oil collected from the burner andwhich is designed tocompensate for the small quantity of oil which is collected during the normalstarting' of the burner so that the safety means will notthen become active, but will become active whenabnormal quantities of oil are collected.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be noted upon reading the de-' tailed description hereinafter set forth.

It will be understood that whcn the terms acting oil or collected oil are asatheyj will apply in their broad sense and are di rected to the oil in its normal or liquid state 1 which has been collected after it has been passed into'the burner or combustion chamber.

The preferred form of this-invention and its incorporation in an oil burner is illustrated in the accompanying drawings where- 1n:- j

- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the exterior of a preferred oil burner showing the safety means incorporated therein;

Fig.2 is a sectional view in part of a portion of the oil burner disclosing one form of burner construction for collecting oil which has been passed into the burner;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines 3r3ofFig.2; H J

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified burner construction for collecting oil which has been passed into the burner;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken' on the line '55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in part of a portion of the safety means disclosing an electric switch and a suitable operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one part of the safety means construction showing another view of the electric switch and anoil reservoir with various valves;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified construction of safety operating means;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a valve associated with the mechanism diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 11 and also shows a suitable push button for short circuiting the switch a Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the preferred oil conduit system with the safety .mea-ns therein;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the modi A fied form of oil conduit syStem with "they I will) safety means therein; and v Fig. 12 is a top plan view of anindicato electri switch.

. Referring now to these illustrations; a side 5 view of the preferred form of oil burner is shown in Fig. 1. This burner consists of a rear'portion 1 which includes the operating parts and a front portion or tube '2 within which there is a partial burning'of the fuel before it is discharged from the extreme end 3 of the-burner. The constructionof the tube portion of the burner may be more readily appreciated by reference to Fig. 2 which is a sectional view of the tube showing a suitable atomi'zing nozzle 4 in dotted lines for spraying the fuel into the tube 2. The atomized mixture issuing from ethe nozzle may be ig nited by any suitable means. preferably .by

means of .a spark-plug. Additional air isadded to the mixture and the air plus the burning mixture move'through the tube 2 and 'issue from theend 3 thereof into the'lower safety means hereinafter to be described may be obtained with burners which have the nozzle 4 thereof introduce the mixture directly into the lower part of the furnace or boiler.

In the burner asherein shown, it is preferred to control the same by means of a room thermostat connected in a control circuit such as an electrical control circuit. The control circuit is not here shown but such circuits are commonly employed in many of the present home oil burners.

WVith the form of burner herein described it is preferred to provide a pump 5 for drawing the fuel from a suitable supply tank as shown in Figs. and 11. This pump 5 continuously provides an oil bowl 6 with a sufiicient quantity of oil so that the oil may be drawn to the nozzle 4 by means of the air passing through the nozzle 4 under pressure. It

will be understood that burners which employ the gravity feed of oil directly to the nozzle 4 maybe also employed.

The safety means herein disclosed as being one of the main features of this invention consists in general ofmeans for collecting unburned oil which has been issued from the nozzle 4 and to employ that collected oil for purposes of controlling the operation of the burnerin cases of the existence of abnormal conditions therein. It is a. further feature of this invention to maintain this collected oil within a closed conduit system to thereby eliminate fire hazards which would be present if this collected oil was open to the atmosphere. It is also an additional feature that this collected oil may be returned to the sup.-

ply of fuel for the burner or to the intake side of the pump 5.

The improved safety device becomes operable when initiation of ignition fails upon the starting of the burner or whenever the combustion or burning of the oil ceases for any one of several possible reasons. I

Any suitable form of apparatus may be employed for taking advantage of the presence of this unburned oil which is collectedwithin the tube 2 in order to vary the control of the burner to preferably stop the burner. In providing one form of suitable means for taking advantage of this collected oil, it has been found desirable to form within the tube of the burner an annular bead 7 to assist in collecting oil which has not been burned and a suitable form of apparatus such as pipe 8 is provided for conducting this collected oil into reservoir 9. See Figs. 1,2,6 and 7 Referring to Fig. 2 the end of the pipe 8 is provided with a suitable protecting means such as a cover 10 for preventing foreign materials from-being blown into the pipe and for equalizing the gas pressures within the tube so that the oil will readily flow from the pipe 8 through an opening 11 in the cover 10 to the reservoir 9jthrough a'conduit 12. j A suitabl'emodified form of construction of the tube 2 for accomplishing the same purpose of collecting and conducting theunburned oil is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Inthis modiii cation there is provided a trough 14 so that the oil collected will readily flow to the cover ,10 and from there through opening 11 -and through a suitable strainer 15 to theinletpipe 12 for the reservoir 9.-

' The closed conduit system herein provided for conducting-the collected oil. from the burner to the supply preferablyconsists of the pipe 8, the reservoir to fuel supply pipe 17 which vleads to a-suitablefuel supply and which-also has the branch 18 leading to the pumpf). It is to be understood that this pipe 18 leads to the suction side of the suction pump 5 as it is preferred to move the oil from the main fuel supply to the pump 5 by means of suction. It will be seen that with this preferred type of safety means that the closed oil conduit system never permits the collected oil to become exposed to the atmosphere. When this safety means is employed with oil burners which have the nozzle 4 introduced in the 9, an outlet pipe 16 furnace or boiler to be heated, it will be understood that any suitable means: such as a trough or a pan may be employed within the and from there to the fuel suppl'yor to the suction pump 5.

It has .been found from experlence 1n the operation of 011 burners that upon startlng there will be a certain amount of oil which issues from the nozzle 4 and which is not burned for the reason that ignition of the mixture does not always take place instan-' taneously with the issue of the atomized fuel from the nozzle 4. When combustion is initiated within the tube 2 then the oil which issues from nozzle 4 becomes ignited and there will be no further substantial quantity of unburned oil collected. unburned during 'the normal starting and initiation'of combustion in the burner will pass through pipe 8 to the reservoir 9 and this quantity of unburned oil will be hereinafter referred to as a normal quantity which normally accumulated during any start of the burner. It is desirable to return this quantity of oil to the fuel supply'so that there will not be an accumulation of these normal quantities of oil within the reservoir 9. Any desired apparatus may be provided for with- The oil which is lu l drawing this normal amount of oil from the.

reservoir 9 after each starting so that the reservoir will not become filled. In the present construction there is provided a valve 19 in the base of the reservoir 9 through'which this oil may pass" to the pipe 16 and from there to the fuelsupply tank 20 (see Fig. 10)

or ba'ck to the suction side of the pump 5 as shownin Figs. 1,-and 10. This normal ac-.

cumulation of oil in reservoir 9 operates to raise a suitable float 21 mounted therein, and

the float will be raised from the collar 22 mounted on stem2l thereby permitting the weights 25 to raise the stem so that valve 19; is opened and the effect of the suction from pump 5 will withdraw oil fromthe'reservoir 9 and allow the float 21 to again set itself on collar 22'thereby returning the stem to close valve 19.

As heretofore indicated, one ofthe features' of the invention is to employ the oil collected from the tube 2 for purposes of controlling the operation of the burner. In the disclosures herein this collected oil is employed to operate the float 21 Also amodi fied form of using this collected oil is shown in Fig, 8, wherein the Weight of the collected oil is employed to modify the control circuit of-the burner instead of simply employing the quantity of collected oil in accordance with the construction illustrated in Figs. 6

' and 7. It is to be understood, however, that to the accumulation of the normal amount of oil collected during successful initiation of, combustion within the tube 2. 'VVhen there.

in the broad scope either of these forms may be employed or that any other construction of apparatus responsive to the oil collected from tube 2 may be employed for modifying or changing the'control of the oil burner.

In the event the initiation of combustion in the tube2 has not been successful then there will be an abnormal accumulation of "oil in the tube 2 andthis oil will flowto the reservoir 9 and raises the oil level therein. The size of the opening-of valve 19 is such that the flow of oil therethrouglrwill be less than the flow of the oil into the reservoir 9 from the pipe 8. This is the preferred cogstruction although modifications may made thereof. Normally the float 21 in reser-' voir 9 assumes the position at level H during the normal running of the burner.- The level H shown in Fig. 7 illustrates the usual position to which the float 21 may be raised due is an abnormal accumulation of oil within the and the floathas then engaged the-weights" 25 and has raised them sothat theyforcereservoir 9. the float 21 is raised to level H the stem 24 downward to close the valve-19 and thereby prevent further flow of oil through that valve into the return pipe 16.

As one of the features of this invention is the provision of a complete safety means for the burner and which when respondingto the movement of the float 21 preferably operates to change the control circuit so that the burner operations are stopped. In,provid-' ing a suitable'type of mechanical connection are engaged by the float 21 when it rises to its position H These stems are suitably mounted on across beam 28 which in turn is attached to a plate 29 carried by a suitable spindle which is held in .a support 30. The

upwardmove'ment of the stems 27 and the betweenthe float 21 and the switch 26 there are here provided stems 27, see Fig. 6, which plate29 carries projection 31 ofthe plate 29 v into contact with a suitable pin 32 mounted on the switch ,26 and the further rise of the float 21 causes projection 31 to move pin 32 thereby tipping. switch 26 to open the same thusvarying' the control for the burner and preferably causing the burner to stop. In

the preferred construction herein. the stopping of the burner will stop the operation of the suction pump 5 which supplies fuel from tank 20 tothe burner. Thus when there is an abnormal accumulation of collected oil in reservoir9 there is a cessation of feed of oil to the burnerl' The switch 26 and its mechanism are mounted within a suitable housing 34 in order that theymay be properly protected and there is herein'shown a desired form of indi-' cator' 35. over which a pointer 36 is moved by arm 37 carried by the switch 26. This indicator will show whether the switch 26'is ofi' 'or'on. Thus by a glance at the indicator it is readily notedfwhen the reservoir 9 is full of collected oil.

After the burner has been shutdown due to the accumulation ofcollected oil which represents the failure of initiation of'combust-ion within the burner or the cessation of combustion due to any other cause, it becomes desirable to reposition or reset this safety means so that the burner may be again electric circuit its normal position so that an An-y suitable is completed therethrough.

means may be employed for this purpose. It

is, however, found desirable to provide some started. In repositioning this safety means it becomes desirable to return switch 26 to manual operating means and there is, therefore, illustrated asuitable valve 38 provided with a handle 39. It may be stated that this valve may be remotely cont-rolled if desired. When the valve 38 is turned the collected oil cally be returned to its closed position as ilwithin reservoir 9 may pass to a second reservoir 40- until the level of'the oil in reservoir 9 has returned from level H to level H The valve 38 may then be returned to its normal closed position.- In returning the float 21 to its position H the switch 26 will automatiwhich connects with the pipe 16 and rom there to tank or to the suction. pump 5. In I reference to F ig.- 10 the ball valve 41 is shown as being connected to the supply plpe 17. Either of these particular=connections may be employed. Both areshown for purposes of illustration but in the preferred construction it is desirable to have passage way 42 connect directly to the conduit 16.

It will be seen from this construction that when the burner is started the suction developed in pipe 16 will draw the oil which has been drained intothe second reservoir 40.

back to the suction side of the pump 5.. The

ball valve 41 will also act to prevent any oil. which may be in pipe 18 from entering the second reservoir 40 when the burner has been stopped for any reason should the oil in pipe 18 not return directly to the supply tank 20.

It will be noted that this second reservoir 40 will practically always be more or less empty as it is within .the influence. of the suction developed within pipe 16.

A modified .form of. construction which permits the return of the abnormal amount ofoil-imreservoir 9 to the. suction pump or toj'the fuel1supply 2O is illustrated diagram-' matically'in Fig. ll and a portion of .that

construction is illustrated in detail ig. 9. This modified construction eliminates the use of the second reservoir 40 and ball valve 41. Referring now to Fig. 11 there is provided a. conduit 44 having therein a valve 45 which'is normally held in a closed position by reason of spring 46 and which is manually opened by the movement of a suitable handle '47. The conduit 44. is directly connected to the (reservoir 9 as illustrated and to the pipe 18 leading to the suction pump 5. With t-lIlS:

modified, construction the reservoir 9 is drained by lifting-the handle 47 to open the valve 45 and to cause lever 48 to engage an.

electrical push button 49 that closes two electrical conductors '50 and 51 which act to short circuit the switch 26. When this button 49 has been pressed the control circuit for the burner will be completed and the pump 5 started thereby creating suction within conduit 44 to draw the oil from reservoir 9 thus permitting float 21 to lower to level H and allowthe switch 26 to return to its normal closed-position; When the oil has been drained from reservoir 9 the handle 47 may be lowered and the valve 45 closed and the safety device is then reset to its normal operating condition and the burner will continue its normal operations.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the liquid fuel which has been collected in tube 2 will be returned to the fuel -operative', efiicient and satisfactory oil fuel burner-which requires only a relatively small amount of attention. It will also be noted that'the unburned oil which is collected from. tube 2 is employed to operate a safety means when an abnormal quantity of the oil collects. It will further be noted that the normal .or small amount of oil which is col- 7 lected during a successful startingv of the burneris compensated for by retur'mg that amount of oil to the fuel supply so that there is no danger; of having the safety device operated after the burner has been started a few times by having an accumulation of the normalquantities of oil in reservoir 9. In this connect-ion it may be stated that the safety device automatically operates to compensate itself when the normal amount of collected fuel flows into reservoir 9.

The modified form of the safety device as illustrated in Fig. 8 shows the preferred construction of apparatus'employed to control the operation of the burner by the weight of the oil which collects. In place of the reservoir 9 there is provided a housing 52 within which there is provided a container 54 mounted on. pivots 55 so that it may be readily tipped by reason of the weight of the oil caught therein. Auadjustable counter balance 56 is provided for adjusting the operation'of the device so that it may be responsive to different weights of oil employed or to quantities thereof which collect.

Within the housing 52 there is provided a vided with openings 60 to permit the oil in the container 54 to flow to the interior. of frame 58 so that it may pass through the valve to conduit 16. The frame 58 is suitably mounted ina yoke piece 61 pivoted on extension 62 of the .tube 57. This yoke 6i is pro 'vided with an extension 63 which is adapted to oscillate between the adjustable set screws 64 and 65 supported on a portion of the container 54 as illustrated. a

The oil collected in the tube 2 will flow through the pipe 8 and into the pipe 12 which leads into housing 52 and permits the collected oil to drop into container 54. The normal position of the apparatus is illustrated in Fig. 8 with the valve pin 59 closed by reason of extension 66 of frame 58 resting on a suitablev abutment 67 forming part ofthe container 54.

As the collected oil fills the container 54 the weight of this oil will overbalance the weight 56 andcause the container to tip about its pivoted point 55. The frame 58 will drop until extension 63 pivoted'at point 68 is engaged by adjustable set screw 64. This will 'sufficiently open valve pin 59 to permit the normal amount of oil received through pipe 12 to be carried through tube 57 and pipe l6 back to the suction side of the pump 5. Thus this construction which operates due to, the

thus cause the frame 58 to be raised so that- Valve pin 59 will again seat and prevent the oil from being drawn through tube 57 and into the pipe 16 by reason of the suction.

By reason of this material tipping of container 54 and the downward movement of set screw 64, this set screw will also engage an arm 69 of a suitable rocker arm 70 which is connected by a'link 71 and extension 72 to the electric switch 26 which is electrically connected to the control circuit of the burner. The oscillation of the rocker arm 70, it will be noted, tips the switch 26 so that it will open and thereby open the control circuit of the burner and cause the burner to cease its operations. The stopping of the burner also stops the supply of fuel to the burner. Thus, an

abnormal accumulation of oil collected from the tube 2 acts to control the operation of the vided a push button 74 mounted in a suitable burner and the parts of the apparatus are so constructed and assembled that they cooperate upon this abnormal accumulation of oil to stop the, burner.

lVhen the burner has automatically been stopped by reason of this abnormal quantity of oil in the safety device it is again desirable to perform a manual operation to reset or re-- cond t on the burner for normal operation.

In this preferred construction there is proframe 7 5 which is supported on the housing 52. By pushing this button 74 the switch 26 is again closed and the'burner starts operation. Also the movement of button 74 moves the rocker arm so that set screw 64 is raised and extension63- then becomes free and permits the frame 58 to drop thereby opening the valve to tube 57 and permitting the suction accumulated oil withinthecontainer 54 to permit the balance weight to return. the container 54 and the other operating parts thereof to their normal operating positions.

From the foregoing descriptionof the preferred form of apparatus and the modifications thereof it will be seen that the efliciency of the oil burner is materially increased. It will also be seen that the unburned oil which collects is returned to the fuel supply'without permitting the collected oil to become exposed to the atmosphere thus eliminating a very dangerous fire hazard an'deliminating'one of the present material disadvantages of oil burners. It will further-be seen that the collected oil in passing from the, burner back to the supplywill be employed to modify the control means of the burner so that there may be a change in the operation of the burner. In this particular instance the change is the causing of the burner to stop, or, primarily to cause'the stopping of the feeding. of fuel.

to the burner.

It will be understood that while we have here described in detail a particular embodiment of our invention for purposes of full disclosures, and some detailed features which we are specifically claiming for a special advantage, many changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the broad scope of our invention which is outlined in the sub-joined claims.

We claim 1. In an oil burner the combination of a combustion chamber, means for feeding fuel thereto, fuel ignition means, a safety means consisting of a closed oil conduit system connecting said combustion chamber and a fuel supply for said burner, and means mounted in said conduit system and adapted to cooperate with the fuel feeding means to stop the flow of fuel to said combustion chamber when apredetermined quantity of fuel has passed into said conduit system, said fuel stopping means also acting to permit a small amount of fuel normally collected during the initiation of combustion'to return'to the fuel supply for the burner without operating the safety means to stop the flow of fuel to the burner. i

2. In an oil burner, a safety device adapted to stop the feed of fuel to said burner when initiatiouof combustion fails, said device including means for collecting unburned fuel and automatic means responsive to a normal amount of oil collected during successful miticon ation of combustion for returning this normal amount to the fuel supply for'said burner.

3. In an oil burner, a safetydevice adapted to stop the feed of fuelto said burner when initiation of combustion fails, said devicecomprising means for collecting unburned fuel, automatic means responsive to a normal amount ofoil collected during initiation of combustion for returning this normal amount to the fuel supply for said burner, and additional means associated with said automatic means and being responsive to the collection of an abnormal quantity of fuel for stopping the flow of fuel to the burner.

4. In an oil burner, a safetydevice adapted to stop the feed of fuel to said' burner upon failure to obtain ignition, said device including means for collecting the fuel, automatic means responsive to a normal, amount ofoil collected during successful initiation of combustion forreturning this normal amount to the fuel supply for said burner, and a closed oil conduit system connected to the combustion chamber of said burner and to a fuel sup 1 ply therefor for conducting the oil from said combustion chamber back to the fuel supply.

5. In an oil burner, the combination of a combustion chamber, fuel feeding means, fuel ignition means, a closed conduit system con- .necting said combustion chamber with a fuel and to a fuel supply for said burner, a valveincorporated in said conduit system for governing the flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said fuel supply, means for automatically opening said valve to allow the normal amount offuel collected during initiation of combustion to fiow to said fuel supply, said valve control means acting to close said valve when an abnormal amount of fuel has been collected from said combustion chamber.

7. In an oil burner the combination of a combustion chamber, means for feeding fuel to said chamber, fuel ignition means, a safety means consisting of a closed oil conduit system connected to said combustion chamber and to a fuel supply for said burner, a valve incorporated in said conduit system for governing the flow of fuel collected during initiation of combustion to said fuel supply, control means for said valve, said valve control means acting to close said valve when an abnormal amount of fuel has passed into said oil system from said combustion chamber, and means associated with said valve control means for stopping the flow of fuel to said combustion chamber when an abnormal amount of fuel has passed into said system.

8. In an oil burner the combination of a combustion chamber, means forfeeding fuel to said chamber, fuel ignition means, a safety means consisting of a closed oil conduit system connected to said combustion chamber and to a fuel supply for said burner, a valve incorporated in said conduit system for governing the flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said fuel supply, said valve being of such size as to permit a lesser flow of oil therethrough than the capacity of said conduit system for collecting the fuel from said combustion chamber, and means responsive to the amount of oil collected for governing the operation of said valve to be automatically opened when a small amount of collected oil' flows into said conduit system andjtobe closed when an abnormal amountof oil fiows into said system.

9. In an oil burner the combination of a combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefor, a pump for conducting fuel from said supply to' said combustion chamber, fuel ignition means, a closed'fuel conduit system connected between said combustion chamber and said pump, and safety means lncorporated in said fuel conduit system for stopping the supply a of fuel to said combustion chamber when abnormal quantities of fuel pass into said con v duit system.

'10. In an .oilbiirner the combination of a combustion chamber, a 'fuel supply therefor, a suction pump for controlling the movement loo of fuel from said supply to said combustion chamber, a :closed fuel conduit system LOH- necting said combustion chamber to the suc-r tion side of said pump, said conduit system adapted to receiveunburned-ful from said to said suction pump, and a valve in said-com duit system for governing the flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said pump.

11. In an oil burner the combination of a combustionchamber, a fuel supply therefor, a suction pump for controlling the movement of fuel from said supply to said combustion chamber, a closed fuel conduitsystem connet-ting said combustion chamber to the suction side of said pump, said conduit system adapted to receive unburned fuel from said combustion-chamber and to return the same to said suction pump, a valve in said conduit system for governing the flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said pump, and means responsive tothe oil passing into said System fdrrontrolhng the operatlon of sai valve, said means acting to combustion chamber and to return the same quantity of oil is received in said, reservoir automatically open said valve to permit a predetermined quantity of the collected oil to flow. to said suction pump and to be closed when an abnormal quantity ofoil passes into said conduit system.

12. In an 011 burner the combination of a combustion chamber,'a fuel supply therefor,

adapted to receive unburned fuel from saidcombustion chamber and to return the same -to said suction pump, avalve in said conduit system for governing-the flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said pump,*means respons ve to the oil collected for controlling the-operation of said valve,

said means acting automatically open said valve to permit a predetermined quantity of the collected oilto flow to said suction pump and to be closed when an abnormal quantity of oil passes into said conduit system, and a switcliassociated with said valve controlling I a combustion chamber, a fuel supply'tliere- I means for stopping theoperation of said ump when an' abnormal quantity of. un-' urned fuel has been collected.

13. In an oil burner 'the combination of a combustion chamber, .a fuel supply therefor,

fuel'ignition-means, a safety device responsive to fuel ,collected from said combustion chamber, said safety device comprising a closed conduit system connecting said combustion chamber and said fuel supply, a reservoir in said conduit system for receiving iinburned oil from. said combustion chamber,-

a valve in said reservoir for controlling the flow of the collected fuel to said supply, and a float in said reservoir adapted to be moved by the quantity of oil collecteditherein, said float acting to automatically open said valve when-a relatively small quantity of oil is received in said reservoir and acting to close said Valve when an abnormal quantity ofoil has been received therein. f

14; In an oil burner the combination of a combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefor, fuel ignition means, a safetydevice responsive to fuel collected from said combustion chamber, said safety device comprising a closed conduit system connecting said combustion chamber and said fuel supply, a reservoir' in said conduit system for receiving normal quantity of oil has beenreceived oil from said chamber, a valve in said reservoir for-controlling the flow'of the collected fuel to said supply, afloat in said reservoir adapted tobe moved by the quantity of oil collected therein, said fioat acting to automatically open said valve when a relatively small and acting to close said Valve when an abtherein, and means operated by said float when influenced the abnormal quantity of burner, a closed fuel conduit system connect- .combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefor, fuel ignition means, means for operating the ing said combustion chamber and said fuel supply for receiving unburned fuel from said chamber, a reservoir insaid conduit system, means for automatically permitting the flow of a predetermined quantity of fuel from said chamber to said fuelsupply, said means acting to stop that flow when an abnormal quantity of fuel is received from said com bustion chamber, a switch associated with the means for operating saidburner and with the means in said reservoir andacting to stop sa1d burner when the abnormal quantity of fuel has been received in said reservoir, and

a manually operated valve in said conduit system for draining 'a predetermined amount .of oil from said reservoir after said burner has been stopped due tov the presence of abnormal quantity of collected oil.

16. In an oil burner the combination of for, fuel ignition means, means for operating the burner, a closed fuel condu t system connecting said combustion chamber and said fuel supply for receiving unburned fuel from said chamber, a reservoir in said conduit system, means for. automatically permitting the flow of a predetermined quantity of fuel from said chamber to said fuel supply ,said means acting to stop that flow when an abnormal quantity of fuel is received from said combustion chamber, aswitch associated with the.

means for operating said burner and with the means in said reservoir and acting to stop said burner when the abnormal quantity of fuel has been' received in said reservoir, a manu ally operated valve in said conduit system for draining a predetermined amount of oil from said reservoir after said burner has been stopped, and meansfor returning this drained same to atmosphere;

burner, a closed conduit system connecting Ins combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefQr,- fuel ignition means, means for operatingthe said combustion chamber and saidfuel supply, a reservoir in said conduit system, a valve in said reservoir for controllingthe flow of fuel collected from said combustion chamber to said fuel supply, a float in said reservoir responsive to the quantity'of oil therein to control the opening and closing of said valve, aswitch connected to the means for operatin the burner and'being operated by said float when the same is raised when an abnormal quantity of fuel is received from said com bustion chamber to stop the flow of fuel to said combustion chamber, a second valve mounted in said conduit system for-draining 10 oil to saidfuel supply Without exposing the a predetermined-quantityof the oil from said reservoir, and a second reservoir for receiving the drained oil, said second reservoir being connected to said fuel supply.

18. In an oil burnerthe combination of a combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefor, fuel ignition means, fuel collecting means associated with said combustion chamber for receiving unburned oil within said chamber,

a reservoir connected with said collecting means for receiving the oil collected, a closed conduit leading from said reservoir to said fuel supply, a valve in said reservoir for regu lating the flow of fuel from said reservoir to said fuel supply, a safety switching means for stopping the flow of fuel to said combustion chamber under abnormal conditions, and means mounted within said reservoir and re sponsive to the oil fuel collected therein, said collected fuel responsive means being associated with said switching means to operate the same when an abnormal quantity of fuel is collected in said reservoir.

19. In an oil burner, the combination of a combustion chamber, a fuel supply therefor,

a suction pump for moving oil from said supply to said combustion chamber, a pipe connected to said combustion chamber for re- .eeiving the un'burned oil therein, a reservoir mounted on said burner an l adapted to receive the oil from said pipe, a closed conduit connecting said reservoir to the suction side of said pump, a valve in said reservoir for connecting the same to said closed conduit,

' a float, mounted in said reservoir and adapted to operate saidvalve and to be responsive tothe level of collected oil therein, said valve being automatically opened by said float due -to the collection of a normal amount of oil obtained when combustion is initiated in said combustion chamber, said float adapted to be moved to close said valve when an abnormal amount of oil has been collected due to noninitiation of combustion in said combustion chamber, a stem moved by said float, a switch for controlling the operation of said suction pump, said switch being connected to said stem and opened thereby when an abnormal quantity of oil is received in said reservoir HARRY F. TAPP. HOWARD W. DIX. 

